4/0- 


0.3:  "Q 


Bulletin  No.  79. 

i     s.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

OFFICE    OF    EXPERIMENT    STATIONS, 
A.  C.  TRUE,  Dire 


FARMERS'  INSTITUTES: 


HISTORY  AND  STATUS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATE 


ANADA. 


r 


omasa  he. 


BY 


U.S.  DEPOSITORY  ^ 
IVH     BAILEY.  M.   S 

PROFESSOR  OF  HORTICULTURE,  CORNELL  UNIVERSITY. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE. 
1900. 


Bulletin  No.  79. 

U.  S.  DEPARTMEN1    I  >F  AGRICULTURE, 

OFFICE    OF    EXPERIMENT    STATIONS, 
A.  C  TRUE,    Dir. 


FARMERS' INSTITUTES: 


HISTORY  AND  STATUS  IX  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  CANAD. 


BY 


L.   H.   BAILEY,  M.   S., 

PROFESSOR  OF  HORTICULTrRE,  CORNELL  UNIVERSITY. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE. 
1900. 


LETTER  OE  TRANSMITTAL 


U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Office  of  Experiment  Stations. 

Washington,  B.  C,  February  16,  1900. 
Sir:  L  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  an  article  on  farmers' 
institutes  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  prepared  by  Prof.  L.  H. 
Bailey,  of  Cornell  University.  There  is  an  increasing  demand  for 
information  regarding  the  various  means  which  have  been  adopted  for 
extending  our  system  of  agricultural  education  to  the  actual  tillers  of 
the  soil.  This  article  gives  brief  historical  and  statistical  informa- 
tion regarding  farmers'  institutes,  which  constitute  one  of  the  most 
successful  of  these  means.  I  therefore  recommend  its  publication  as 
Bulletin  79  of  this  Office. 
Respectfully, 

A.  C.  True, 

Director. 
Hon.  James  Wilson, 

Secretary  of  Agriculture. 


CONTENTS, 


Page. 

Genera]  and  historical  survey 5 

Statistics  of  the  States  and  Provinces 8 

Alabama 8 

Arizona 9 

Arkansas 9 

British  Columbia 9 

California  9 

Colorado 10 

(  onuecticut 10 

Delaware 11 

1  lorida 11 

Georgia 12 

Idaho 12 

Illinois 12 

Indiana 13 

Iowa 13 

Kansas 14 

Kentucky 14 

Louisiana 14 

Maine l.~> 

Manitoba 15 

Maryland 15 

Massachusetts 16 

Michigan    17 

Minnesota 17 

Mississippi   17 

Missouri 18 

Montana 18 

Nebraska 18 

Nevada 19 

New  Brunswick 19 

New  Hampshire 20 

New  Jersey 20 

New  Mexico  20 

New  York 21 

North  Carolina 21 

North  Dakota 21 

Nova  Scotia 22 

Ohio 22 

l  Ontario 23 

Oregon 25 

Pennsylvania 25 


(Quebec 

Rhode  Island 

3 


4 

Statistics  of  the  States  and  Proi  uacei — Continued.  Page. 

South  Carolina 27 

South  Dakota 27 

Tennessee 28 

Texas 28 

Utah  28 

Vermont 29 

Virginia 29 

Washington  30 

West  Virginia  30 

Wisconsin 30 

•  Wyoming 30 

Summary 31 

( officials  in  charge  of  farmers'  institutes  in  the  United  States 33 


FARMERS'    INSTITUTES:   HISTORY   AND   STATUS    IN    UNITED 
STATES  AND  CANADA." 


GENERAL  AND  HISTORICAL  SURVEY. 

The  history  of  the  origin  of  the  tanners'  institute  is  obscure,  but  it  is 
certain  that  the  movement  began  earlier  than  we  have  been  led  to  sup- 
pose. The  movement  is  an  outgrowth  of  farmers'  societies  of  various 
kinds,  many  of  which  are  of  long  standing.  It  began  to  assume  definite 
and  separate  shape  early  in  the  seventies,  when  several  States  under- 
took to  hold  farmers'  meetings  on  essentially  the  same  plan  as  at 
present.  As  early  as  1869  and  1870  such  meetings  were  held  in  Iowa 
by  Welch,  Roberts.  Bessey,  Jones,  Matthews,  and  Mrs.  Tapper,  the 
expenses  being  met  by  the  community  in  which  the  institute  was  held. 
In  1S71  an  account  of  '•  farmers*  institutes"  was  published  in  the  report 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Iowa  Agricultural  College,2  in  which  it 
is  said  that  uthe  experiment  of  holding  farmers'  institutes  in  different 
localities  in  the  State,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  familiar  lectures  on 
prominent  topics  in  agriculture,  was  tried  last  winter  with  very  grati- 
fying success.  Institutes,  lasting  three  days,  were  held  at  Cedar  Falls, 
Council  Bluffs,  Washington,  and  Muscatine,  at  each  of  which  points  we 
found  an  enthusiastic  gathering  of  farmers."  Vermont,  Michigan, ;  and 
some  other  States  inaugurated  institutes  about  this  time. 

The  origin  of  the  itinerant  lecture  system  for  the  instruction  of 
farmers  is  to  be  sought  long  before  this  time,  however.  As  early  as 
184:2  or  1843  such  lectures  were  inaugurated  by  the  Xew  York  State 
Agricultural  Society,  aud  these  were  so  successful  that  the  society 
adopted  the  following  resolution  at  a  meeting  held  in  Albauy,  January 
20.  1848: 

Resolved,  That  the  plan  which  was  adopted  by  the  former  secretaries  of  the  New 
York  state  Agricultural  Society  |  Daniel  Lee,  Joel  B.  Xott,  and  Benjamin  P.  John- 
son), in  addressing,  at  suitable  times,  county  agricultural  societies,  meets  the  decided 
approbation  of  the  committee,  and  they  trust  it  will  be  continued  hereafter:  and 
they  recommend  the  adoption  of  the  resolution. 

Massachusetts  early  took  steps  to  inaugurate  a  series  of  farmers' 
institutes  through  the  endeavors  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture. 

■For  a  previous  article  on  this  subject  see  Experiment  Station  Record.  7.  p.  635. 

1  (  ountry  Gentleman,  1887.  p.  873. 

3  For  a  history  of  Michigan  institutes  Bee  Ept.  Mich.  Bd.  Agr.  1875,  p.  72. 


6 

The  first  reference  to  such  meetings  is  to  be  found  in  the  records  of  the 
secretary  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture  under  date  of  January  21, 
L859,  when  it  was  voted  by  the  board  "to  appoint  a  committee  to  con- 
sider and  report  upon  the  propriety  of  instituting  meetings  similar  to 
teachers'  institutes."  This  committee  reported  February  3,  1859,  in 
favor  of  holding  such  meetings,  and  recommended  that  they  be  com- 
menced as  soon  as  possible.  Febrnary  1,  1871,  the  board  voted  "that 
the  various  agricultural  societies  of  the  Common  wealth  be  requested 
to  organize  an  annual  meeting  for  lectures  and  discussions  at  such 
time  and  place  as  may  be  convenient  for  each  society;  these  meetings 
to  be  denominated  kThe  Farmers'  Institutes  of  Massachusetts.'7'  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1878,  it  was  voted:  "That  the  agricultural  societies  receiving 
the  bounty  of  the  Commonwealth  be  requested  to  arrange  and  hold 
one  or  more  farmers'  institutes  each  year  within  their  limits:  and  that 
they  be  informed  that  the  board  will  render  all  the  assistance  in  its 
power  to  make  such  institutes  instructive  and  useful  to  the  public/' 
February  6,  1879,  this  vote  was  amended  by  substituting  the  word 
"required"  for  "requested,"  and  changing  the  number  to  be  held  each 
year  from  "one"  to  "three. n  February  5,  1880,  it  was  voted:  "That 
in  the  opinion  of  this  board  it  is  expedient  that  the  secretary  attend  as 
many  farmers'  institutes  as  the  other  duties  of  his  office  will  allow." 
February  3,  1887,  it  was  voted:  "That  the  rule  requiring  societies 
receiving  the  bounty  of  the  State  to  hold  at  least  three  institutes  dur- 
in  the  year  be  restated  and  enforced."  February  7,  1889,  the  board 
adopted  the  following  rule:  " Each  agricultural  society  receiving  the 
bounty  of  the  Commonwealth  is  hereby  required  to  arrange  and  hold 
not  less  than  three  farmers'  institutes  each  calendar  year  within  its 
limits,  and  the  board  will  render  all  the  assistance  in  its  power  to  make 
such  institutes  interesting  and  profitable.  The  secretary  is  expected  to 
attend  as  many  of  these  institutes  as  is  compatible  with  the  other 
duties  of  his  office,  and  he  will  provide  lecturers  for  the  institutes  as 
far  as  the  appropriation  for  this  object  will  warrant.  And  the  several 
agricultural  societies  are  earnestly  requested  at  their  annual  meetings 
to  fix  the  dates  at  which  they  will  hold  the  several  institutes  required, 
and  the  subjects  they  desire  to  have  discussed,  and  at  once  notify  the 
secretary  of  the  board  if  they  desire  assistance  in  the  procuring  of 
lecturers.  Societies  may  arrange  and  hold  more  than  three  institutes 
if  they  so  desire,  and  the  secretary  of  each  society  is  required  to  certify 
to  the  holding  of  each  institute,  upon  blanks  provided  by  this  office." 
During  the  calendar  year  1890,  36  societies  held  129  institutes.  No 
regular  amount  has  been,  or  is  now,  appropriated  by  the  State  to  pay 
the  expenses  of  these  institutes.  The  State  grants  an  annual  bounty 
of  $000  to  each  incorporated  agricultural  society  complying  with  the 
law  and  with  the  regulations  of  the  board  of  agriculture.  Since  1863 
the  board  of  agriculture  has  held  an  annual  three  days'  country  (pref- 
erably public  winter)  meeting  in  some  section  of  the  Commonwealth 


for  lectures  and  discussion,  the  proceedings  of  which  have  appeared 

annually  in  the  Agriculture  of  Massachusetts.  March  :.'<>,  ls<;<>.  the 
legislature  approved  an  act  which,  among  other  things,  authorized  the 

expenditure  tor  other  clerical  services  over  and  above  one  clerk  with 
tixed  salary)  in  his  office,  and  for  lectures  before  the  hoard  of  agri- 
culture, at  its  annual  and  other  meetings,  a  sum  not  exceeding  $100. 
In  1887  this  amount  was  increased  to  $800  per  annum.  This  amount 
has  been  used  each  year  to  pay  lecturers,  stenographers'  services,  etc., 
at  this  meeting. 

The  legal  authority  for  the  holding  of  institutes  in  Michigan,  m  con- 
nection with  the  Agricultural  College,  is  held  to  be  derived  from  the 
following  clause  in  the  organic  law  of  1861 :  '-The  State  board  of  agri- 
culture may  institute  winter  courses  of  lectures  for  others  than  stu- 
dents of  the  institution,  under  necessary  rules  and  regulations."  This 
Michigan  law  possesses  unusual  interest,  for  it  is  probably  the  first  legal 
authority  conferred  upon  an  educational  institution  in  this  country  to 
carry  instruction  to  farmers  who  are  not  students  in  the  college.  And 
this  recalls  the  fact  that  the  farmers'  institute  movement  is  essentially 
unh  ersity  extension,  inasmuch  as  the  greater  number  of  the  institutes 
are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  agricultural  colleges.  The  vital 
connection  which  exists  between  these  colleges  and  the  institutes  may 
be  learned  from  a  study  of  the  statistics  presented  on  the  following 
pages:  and  it  may  also  be  said  that  even  in  those  States  in  which  this 
official  and  legal  connection  does  not  exist  the  teachers  in  the  colleges 
are  expected  to  identity  themselves  with  the  institute  work.  It  is  true 
that  the  institute  movement  lacks  much  of  the  definiteness  of  specific 
university  extension,  but  the  ultimate  aims  of  the  two  are  the  same, 
and  writers  upon  university  extension  are  recognizing  this  fact. 

The  institutes  are  now  undergoing  a  transformation.  Farmers  are 
constantly  asking  for  more  specific  instruction,  and  courses  of  technical 
lectures  upon  a  series  of  intimately  related  topics  are  in  demand.  This 
demand  has  given  rise  to  itinerant  " dairy  schools,"  "schools  of  horti- 
culture. "  and  similar  organizations  in  various  States.  The  institute 
bureaus  in  some  cases  publish  a  roster  of  speakers,  with  announce- 
ment of  their  subjects,  and  from  these  lists  the  different  localities 
select  their  lecturers.  The  demand  for  definite  and  consecutive  instruc- 
tion in  agriculture  has  brought  forward  a  number  of  schemes  looking 
to  the  intensification  and  extension  of  the  institute  system. 

The  farmers'  institute  has  exerted  a  most  powerful  influence  upon 
the  agriculture  of  the  country.  It  is  in  the  highest  sense  a  philan- 
thropic and  patriotic  movement.  In  Wisconsin,  for  example,  it  has 
met  with  marked  success,  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  a  former  super- 
intendent of  the  institutes  in  that  State,  W.  H.  Morrison,  should  write 
thus  enthusiastically  of  the  results: 

I  wish  that  you  had  the  history  of  this  movement  in  Wisconsin — how  the  institutes 
have  stimulated  a  pride  and  respect  for  agriculture,  bringing  farmers  together  to 


8 

compare  and  pool  experience.  They  give  the  fanner  an  opportunity  to  meet  masters 
in  agriculture,  men  who  make  the  business  of  farming  a  science  and  a  life  work. 
The\  build  up  and  unite  farm  interests,  energize  and  fertilize  local  thought,  make 
men  and  women  better  satisfied  with  the  farm,  and  will  have  the  tendency  to  keep 
a  fair  portion  of  the  best  boys  on  the  farm.  They  are  revolutionizing  agriculture  in 
this  State,  and  their  power  was  felt  and  heeded  by  our  legislature  last  winter. 
Fortunately,  our  farm  institute  work  is  under  the  auspices  of  our  State  University. 
My  ottice  is  in  the  same  building  with  Professor  Henry,  director  of  the  experiment 
station,  and  whatever  may  come  from  his  experiments  that  will  aid  the  farmers  of 
the  State  is  taken  by  our  farm  institutes  and  scattered  all  over  the  State.  The  fact 
is,  they  are  doing  more  for  the  State  than  the  originators  of  the  law  ever  thought 
or  expected.  They  builded  better  than  they  knew.  The  institutes  are  educating 
our  farmers  to  better  methods,  and  increasing  the  rewards  of  the  farm.  Seventy 
to  75  institutes  are  held  each  winter,  attended  by  an  average  of  over  500  farmers, 
making  them  a  great  feeder  to  all  the  courses  in  the  university.  And,  lastly,  they 
are  advertising  the  resources  of  Wisconsin,  as  we  issue  annually  31,000  copies  of  a 
farm  institute  bulletin. 

Nearly  $85,000  were  spent  in  1891  in  North  America  for  farmers' 
institutes. 

In  the  following  review  facts  relating  to  farmers'  institutes  collected 
in  1891 ]  are  summarized  in  connection  with  data  gathered  from  official 
sources  in  1899.  This  furnishes  a  basis  for  interesting  comparisons 
between  the  movements  in  1891  and  1899,  and  indicates  the  progress 
which  has  been  made.  The  information  for  1899  attempts  to  answer  the 
following  questions: 

(1)  Under  what  auspices  are  the  institutes  held? 

(2)  How  many  institutes  are  held  each  year,  and  what  is  the  attend- 
ance? 

(3)  How  are  the  institutes  distributed  or  located1? 

(4)  How  much  money  is  available  for  farmers'  institutes? 

(5)  Is  there  a  State  department  of  agriculture  ? 

These  statistics  must  impress  one  with  the  extent  of  the  efforts  which 
are  being  made  in  all  parts  of  North  America  to  awaken  and  to  educate 
the  farmer. 

STATISTICS  OF  THE  STATES  AND  PROVINCES. 

ALABAMA. 

1891.     Annual  appropriation,  $3,000. 

1899.  In  Alabama,  farmers'  institutes  are  held  under  the  auspices 
both  of  the  State  commissioner  of  agriculture  and  under  the  Polytech- 
nic Institute  at  Auburn.  They  are  distributed  where  applications  are 
made.  The  Polytechnic  Institute  (Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Col- 
lege) held  20  institutes  in  1898-99,  at  a  cost  of  $500.  Fifteen  institutes 
were  held  during  1899  at  which  the  total  attendance  was  about  1,200  to 
1,400. 

1  Published  in  Annals  of  Horticulture,  1891. 


ARIZONA. 

1891.     No  provisions  made  for  institutes. 

1S!)9.     The  farmers'  institutes  held  in  Arizona  are  under  the  auspice^ 

of  the  Arizona  Agricultural  Association.  From  one  to  tour  have  been 
held  eaeli  year  for  the  past  three  years,  the  institute  movement  having 
existed  in  Arizona  only  for  that  length  of  time.  The  experiment  station 
assisted  at  seven  institutes  during  the  latter  half- of  1899,  the  total 
attendance  at  which  was  estimated  to  be  about  700.  Hie  institutes 
have  been  held  thus  far  in  Salt  Kiver  Valley  only,  which  is  the  chief 
agricultural  region  of  the  Territory.  No  set  sum  has  been  segregated 
for  institute  purposes,  but  the  expenses  thereof  have  been  borne  by  the 
agricultural  college  and  experiment  station.  There  is  no  State  depart- 
ment of  agriculture  in  Arizona. 

ARKANSAS. 

1891.  Farmers'  institutes  had  not  been  organized  in  this  State  in 
1891. 

1899.  There  has  been  little  direct  institute  work  in  Arkansas.  Very 
recently  the  experiment  station  has  been  provided  with  a  pomologist 
who  is  to  have  charge  of  the  work.  It  is  the  intention  to  hold  at  least 
one  institute  in  each  county  the  coming  season.  There  are  many  appli- 
cations from  farmers  particularly  from  the  cotton-growing  sections. 
There  is  a  department  of  mines,  manufactures,  and  agriculture,  with 
headquarters  at  Little  liock. 

BRITISH  COLUMBIA. 

1899.  The  farmers'  institutes  of  this  Province  are  under  the  auspices 
of  the  government,  and  controlled  by  a  superintendent.  The  Province 
is  divided  into  institute  districts,  by  act,  and  one  institute  is  allowed 
in  each  district.  Two  regular  meetings,  to  which  the  speakers  are 
sent  at  the  expense  of  the  government,  are  allowed  to  each  institute 
each  year;  and  as  many  supplementary  meetings  as  the  institutes 
choose  to  have,  they  providing  the  speakers,  except  when  speakers  are 
asked  for,  in  which  case  the  government  pays  the  fares  only.  The 
institutes  are  supported  entirely  by  the  Provincial  government,  50  cents 
per  head  being  the  per  capita  grant  to  institutes,  and  $6.50  per  day  for 
speakers  sent  to  regular  meetings.  The  last  year's  grant  amounted  to 
$3,000.  The  number  of  institutes  held  in  1899  was  105,  the  total 
attendance  3,317.     There  is  a  Provincial  department  of  agriculture. 

CALIFORNIA. 

1891.     No  farmers'  institutes. 

1899.  The  department  of  university  extension  in  agriculture  of 
the  University  of  California  holds  the  farmers'  institutes.  The  official 
year  ends  July  1.     In  1897-98,  79   institutes  were  held;   in   1898-99, 


10 

86  were  held.  The  average  attendance  at  each  of  these  institutes  is 
estimated  to  be  200,  making  a  total  of  about  17,000.  It  is  the  aim  to 
distribute  the  institutes  somewhat  uniformly  geographically,  but  the 
determining  factor  is  the  spontaneity  of  the  application  and  the  assur- 
ance of  local  preparation.  The  university  carries  on  the  work  from  its 
own  funds.  In  1898-99  about  $4,500  were  expended,  including  the 
salaries  of  two  conductors.  California  has  a  State  board  of  agricul- 
ture, the  chief  duty  of  which  is  the  holding  of  fairs. 

COLORADO. 

1891.  Xo  direct  appropriations  were  made  by  the  general  assembly 
during  this  year  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  and  conducting  farmers' 
institutes.  The  State  board  of  agriculture  set  aside  a  certain  sum  to 
be  used  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expenses  of  professors  attend- 
ing such  institutes  held  in  different  parts  of  the  State.  Since  the  year 
1888  a  record  had  been  kept  of  the  amount  expended  for  this  purpose, 
which  is  as  follows:  For  the  year  1888,  $99.55;  for  the  year  1889, 
$56.60;  for  the  year  1890,  8121.80;  for  the  year  1891,  $90;  for  the  year 
1892  the  sum  of  $500  had  been  appropriated  for  said  purposes. 

1899.  All  farmers'  institutes  in  Colorado  are  held  under  the  auspices 
of  the  State  Agricultural  College.  There  is  no  definite  number  held 
each  year;  they  have  varied  from  about  6  to  20.  These  meetings  are 
not  regularly  distributed  over  the  State.  They  are  held  entirely  in  the 
irrigated  districts,  and  at  least  one-third  of  them  are  held  in  connection 
with  meetings  of  local  Pomona  granges*  There  are  also  several  local 
organizations  which  apply  to  the  college  for  speakers  to  be  sent  to  help 
conduct  the  meetings.  There  is  no  definite  sum  available  for  the  insti- 
tutes; each  locality  is  expected  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  room  in 
which  the  meeting  is  held,  of  printing  programmes,  and  other  local 
expenses.  The  railroads  furnish  free  transportation  and  the  college 
pays  the  rest  of  the  traveling  expenses;  also  the  hotel  expenses  if  there 
are  any,  although  the  local  people  are  very  likely  to  take  care  of  the 
speakers  while  they  are  in  town.  On  the  average  there  has  been  less 
than  $150  a  year  spent  by  the  college  on  these  institutes.  There  is  no 
State  department  of  agriculture.  There  is  a  so-called  State  board  of 
agriculture,  but  this  is  merely  the  legal  title  for  the  trustees  of  the 
State  Agricultural  College. 

CONNECTICUT. 

1891.  Xo  appropriation.  The  board  of  agriculture  held  an  important 
winter  meeting  from  its  own  funds,  and  about  $200  per  year  was  other- 
wise expended  for  institute  work. 

1899.  The  farmers'  institutes  in  Connecticut  are  held  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  State  board  of  agriculture,  the  State  Dairymen's  Associa- 
tion, and  the  State  Pomological  Society.  As  many  are  held  yearly 
as  the  secretaries  of  these  organizations  may  deem  advisable,  varying 


11 

somewhat  with  the  funds  available  and  the  calls  received.  About 
12  to  15  were  held  in  1898,  not  including  annual  meetings  of  each  of 
these  organizations.  The  total  attendance  at  institutes  daring  L899 
is  estimated  at  about  5,000.  The  institutes  by  the  State  board  are 
distributed  chiefly  according  to  applications  received,  while  those  held 
by  the  State  Dairymen's  Association  are  distributed  according  to  the 
judgment  of  the  secretary.  There  is  no  special  appropriation  for  insti- 
tutes. The  various  State  organizations  holding  the  same  use  money 
from  their  regular  appropriations  after  holding  annual  conventions  ami 
allowing  for  other  necessary  expenses.  There  is  a  State  board  of  agri- 
culture in  Connecticut,  appointed  in  part  by  the  governor,  and  in  part 
by  the  legislature  by  counties. 

DELAWARE. 

1891.  "Annual  appropriation  of  $200  to  each  of  the  three  counties. 
In  an  act  providing  for  the  holding  of  farmers'  institutes,  passed  March 
29,  1889,  the  object  of  the  institutes  is  defined  to  be  "the  discussion 
orally,  or  by  written  essays  or  papers,  of  agricultural  or  kindred  mat- 
ters, and  for  the  dissemination  of  agricultural  knowledge  among  the 
farmers  of  the  State." 

1899.  Each  county  receives  8200  if  it  organizes  a  body  technically 
known  as  an  institute.  The  officers  of  this  institute  "  shall  be  a  presi- 
dent, vice-president,  secretary,  treasurer,  and  executive  committee  of 
five  to  nine  members."  This  institute  for  the  election  of  officers  is  prac- 
tically a  mass  meeting  of  the  farmers  of  the  county.  The  officers  serve 
one  year  without  compensation  The  institute  may  hold  as  many  meet- 
ings as  it  choose,  "at  such  times  and  places  as  the  members  *  *  * 
may  *  *  *  determine."  Sometimes  8  to  12  meetings  may  be  held 
in  a  county.  About  50  such  meetings  were  held  during  1899.  The 
total  number  of  farmers  attending  was  probably  2,000  to  2,500.  There 
is  no  State  department  of  agriculture,  although  the  new  State  constitu- 
tion provides  for  the  organization  of  one  by  the  legislature. 

FLORIDA. 

1891.     No  appropriation. 

1899,  No  farmers'  institutes  were  held  in  Florida  previous  to  the 
past  collegiate  year.  Institutes  are  now  held  under  the  auspices  of 
the  department  of  agriculture  of  the  Agricultural  College.  One  is  held 
in  each  county  of  the  State  annually,  provided  local  parties  request 
the  same.  They  are  held  only  upon  request  from  the  different  counties. 
In  the  event  that  requests  are  not  received  from  certain  counties  and 
more  requests  are  received  from  other  counties,  more  than  one  institute 
may  be  held  in  any  given  county,  provided  the  total  number  of  insti- 
tutes in  the  State  does  not  exceed  the  total  number  of  counties,  aggre 
gating  49  for  the  State.  Fourteen  institutes  were  held  iu  1899  with 
an  average  attendance  of  about  300.     There  is  no  money  available  for 


12 

institutes  specifically  outside  of  the  regular  educational  income  of  the 
college.  The  railroads  in  the  State  cooperate  in  the  movement,  how- 
ever. There  is  a  State  department  of  agriculture  with  a  commissioner 
of  agriculture,  elected  by  the  people,  with  headquarters  in  Tallahassee. 

GEORGIA. 

1S01.    No  appropriation. 

1899.  In  Georgia  farmers'  institutes  are  conducted  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts.  Because 
of  lack  of  means  and  time  the  institute  work  has  been  irregular  of  late. 
About  18  institutes  are  held  annually  on  an  average.  They  are  irregu- 
larly distributed,  being  given  where  there  is  particular  demand  for 
them.  Aside  from  the  official  institutes,  the  various  officers  of  the 
experiment  station  give  aid  to  meetings  whenever  they  can.  During 
the  present  year  another  institute  movement  has  been  prominent.  It  is 
established  and  maintained  by  the  Atlanta  Evening  Journal,  and  is  per- 
sonally superintended  by  its  editor.  During  the  summer  of  1899  this 
gentleman  conducted  about  50  institutes.  The  State  has  never  appro- 
priated money  for  institute  work,  but  the  college  has  been  in  the  habit 
of  giving  from  $200  to  $500  annually  for  the  work.  The  State  depart- 
ment of  agriculture  has  been  organized  for  many  years  at  the  capital, 
the  official  head  being  the  State  commissioner  of  agriculture,  who  is 
one  of  the  governor's  cabinet.  In  1898  the  office  of  State  entomologist 
was  established,  which  is  under  the  direction  of  the  commissioner  of 
agriculture.  The  State  entomologist  has  attended  farmers'  institutes 
whenever  practicable. 

In  place  of  short  institutes  held  for  a  day  or  two  at  a  time  in  various 
parts  of  the  State,  there  has  now  been  projected  a  localized  or  continu- 
ous institute  to  be  held  for  nine  months  each  year  in  connection  with 
the  model  farm  of  the  State  University  at  Athens.  This  movement  is 
equivalent  to  what  in  other  States  is  called  a  short  course  or  winter 
course  in  agriculture. 

IDAHO. 

1899.  Farmers'  institutes  are  conducted  under  the  direction  of  the 
experiment  station. 

ILLINOIS. 

1891.  In  1889  the  thirty-sixth  general  assembly  appropriated  $100 
per  annum  for  the  use  of  each  Congressional  district  in  the  State  hold- 
ing farmers'  institute  meetings.  There  being  twenty  Congressional 
districts,  the  sum  appropriated  therefor  amounts  to  84,000  for  the  two 
legislative  years.  There  was  paid  to  the  districts  holding  farmers' 
institutes  from  said  appropriation  the  sum  of  $3,000.  The  thirty- 
seventh  general  assembly,  1891,  passed  an  act  appropriating  the  sum 
of  $50  annually  for  two  years  to  each  county  farmers'  institute.  There 
being  102  counties  in  the  State,  the  appropriation  therefor  amounts  to 
the  sum  of  $10,200.     Few  of  the  counties  held  meetings. 


13 

1899.  One  institute  is  held  annually  in  each  county  under  Hie 
auspices  of  county  organizations.  As  already  Stated, the  Stale  makes 
an  appropriation  for  each  county  institute  of  $50,  l>nl  for  the  ensuing 
two  years  175  arc  allowed  to  each  county.  In  addition  to  this,  the 
State  appropriates  $8,000  annually  to  the  Illinois  State  Farmers' 
Institute,  which  is  an  official  board.  The  State  institute  has  an  advi- 
sory intlnence  over  the  county  institutes  and  holds  annually  a  State 
meeting  of  three  days'  session.  The  institute  inaugurates  various 
educational  work.  The  board  of  directors  of  the  institute  is  composed 
of  the  State  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  president  State 
1  )airy men's  Association,  dean  of  College  of  Agriculture,  president  State 
Board  of  Agriculture,  president  State  Horticultural  Society,  and  one 
member  elected  from  each  Congressional  district  of  the  State.  There 
is  also  in  Illinois  a  State  board  of  agriculture.  Its  principal  duty  is  to 
manage  the  Illinois  State  fair  and  collect  quarterly  crop  statistics. 

INDIANA. 

1891.     An  annual  appropriation  of  $5,000. 

1899.  The  farmers'  institutes  of  Indiana  are  provided  for  by  a  State 
appropriation,  and  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  Purdue  University. 
Each  county  in  the  State  (92)  holds  an  annual  institute  under  State 
auspices.  In  a  large  number  of  cases  a  second  meeting  is  also  held  if 
the  direct  apportionment  of  $25  for  local  expenses  is  not  all  used  on 
the  first  meeting.  Over  one  hundred  institutes  under  State  auspices 
are  held  annually  (103  during  1898-99),  and  about  25  independent 
meetings.  These  independent  meetings  are  held  by  the  same  local 
organization  which  has  charge  of  the  annual  meetings  under  State  con- 
trol. The  meetings  are  distributed  by  counties.  The  general  average 
attendance  is  about  250,  making  the  total  attendance  probably  30,000  to 
35,000.  The  sum  of  $5,000  is  appropriated  annually  for  this  work. 
The  State  board  of  agriculture  in  Indiana  corresponds  with  the  State 
agricultural  society  of  Michigan.  It  has  in  charge  the  State  fair,  and 
publishes  a  report  of  the  fair  and  of  the  various  industrial  meetings 
held  at  the  statehouse.  There  is  no  State  commissioner  of  agriculture. 
The  local  organizations  which  cooperate  with  the  superintendent  of 
institutes  in  holding  the  annual  institutes  in  the  several  counties  have 
been  organized,  with  the  exception  of  two  or  three  cases,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  arranging  for  and  holding  farmers'  institutes. 

IOWA. 

1891.  No  appropriation.  During  the  winter  of  1890-91  the  State 
agricultural  society  and  the  agricultural  college  appropriated  a  small 
sum.  Institutes  were  held  at  this  period  but  they  were  supported  by 
individuals  or  societies. 

1899.     In  most  cases  one  institute  is  held  in  each  county;  sometimes 


14 

two.  They  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  local  institute  officers 
of  each  county.  State  aid  to  the  extent  of  $50  is  appropriated  to  each 
county,  of  which  there  are  91).  There  is  a  State  department  of  agri- 
culture, but  it  does  not  govern  the  institutes. 

KANSAS. 

1891.     No  appropriation. 

1899.  Up  to  1899,  no  State  funds  were  available  for  institutes,  but 
from  $400  to  $500  have  been  taken  from  the  college  funds  annually. 
In  1897-98,  30  institutes  were  held;  in  1898-99,  63.  During  the  year 
1899, 135  institutes  were  held,  the  total  attendance  being  about  20,000. 
Now  a  State  appropriation  of  $3,000  has  been  made,  and  it  is  expected 
that  300  institutes  will  be  held  and  that  one  or  two  professors  will  be 
sent  to  each.  The  meetings  are  held  where  applications  are  made. 
The  work  is  in  charge  of  a  committee  made  up  from  the  experiment 
station  staff.     Kansas  has  a  State  board  of  agriculture. 

KENTUCKY. 

1891.  The  first  appropriation  for  State  institutes  was  made  in  May, 
1890,  when  the  legislature  passed  an  amendment  to  the  law  creating 
the  bureau  of  agriculture,  and  requiring,  among  other  things,  that 
institutes  be  held  in  different  parts  of  the  State.  The  total  appropri- 
ation to  the  bureau  was  $13,000,  but  no  definite  sum  was  specified  for 
institutes.  Five  institutes  were  held  in  the  fall  of  1890,  9  in  the  spring 
of  1891,  and  9  more  were  planned  for  the  winter  of  1891-91!.  The  cost 
of  these  institutes  averaged  about  $100  each,  so  that  about  $1,000  may 
be  said  to  have  been  spent  for  them  annually. 

1899.  The  institutes  in  Kentucky  are  conducted  under  the  provi- 
sions of  the  law  above  referred  to  by  the  State  commissioner  of  agricul- 
ture, labor,  and  statistics,  aided  by  the  advisory  board,  of  which  the 
director  of  the  experiment  station  is  a  member.  Twenty-one  were 
held  during  the  winter  of  1898-99.  During  1899,  44  institutes  were  held, 
with  a  total  attendance  of  probably  3,500.  The  institutes  are  dis- 
tributed over  the  State  as  equitably  as  possible,  the  location  being 
influenced  to  a  considerable  extent  by  local  applications  as  showing- 
local  interest.  The  commissioner  of  agriculture,  labor,  and  statistics 
is  elected,  like  the  governor,  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  is  ineligible 
for  reelection. 

LOUISIANA. 

1891.     No  appropriation. 

1899.  The  farmers'  institutes  of  Louisiana  are  held  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  State  commissioner  of  agriculture  and  immigration.  As 
many  institutes  are  held  each  year  as  there  are  parishes  or  clubs  re- 
questing them.  These  meetings  are  distributed  by  counties  or  dis- 
tricts, and  sometimes  where   parishes   apply  for  them.     Thirty- four 


15 

institutes  were  held  in  the  State  in  1809.  Fifteen  hundred  dollars  is 
annually  appropriated  by  the  state  Legislature  lor  the  purpose  ot 
defraying  the  expenses  of  the  workers  in  the  institutes.  The  scientific 
men  of  the  experiment  station  and  the  state  University  and  Agricul- 
tural and  Mechanical  College  render  assistance,  together  with  local 
talent  from  each  neighborhood. 

MAINE. 

1891.  Annual  appropriation,  $3,000.  The  secretary  of  the  board  of 
agriculture  and  one  member  are  obliged  to  hold  two  institutes  yearly  in 
every  county. 

1899.  Farmers'  institutes  in  Maine  are  held  under  the  auspices  of 
the  board  of  agriculture.  About  50  three-session  meetings  are  held 
each  year.  The  meetings  are  distributed  about  the  State  by  counties 
as  far  as  possible,  and  largely  within  the  different  counties,  to  those 
who  apply  for  them.  There  is  $3,500  available  for  the  purpose  of  hold- 
ing these  institutes.  From  1890  to  1895  meetings  were  held,  in  1899 
the  total  attendance  being  about  11,600.  The  State  board  of  agriculture 
has  its  office  in  the  statehouse. 

MANITOBA. 

1891.  There  are  about  20  or  25  farmers'  institutes  in  Manitoba,  each 
one  of  which  receives  $25  a  year  from  the  Provincial  funds. 

1899.  The  farmers'  institutes  of  Manitoba  are  organized  under  an  act 
of  the  legislature.  To  give  them  a  legal  standing  and  entitle  them  to 
a  government  grant  they  must  have  at  least  25  paid-up  members.  The 
yearly  membership  fee  must  not  be  less  than  50  cents,  and  for  each 
paid-up  member  the  government  gives  them  a  grant  of  50  cents.  Twice 
in  each  year  the  department  of  agriculture  of  the  Province  sends  out 
lecturers  to  visit  all  the  institutes,  two  lecturers  attending  each  one. 
A  convention  of  delegates  from  all  the  institutes,  known  as  the  "Cen- 
tral Farmers'  Institute,"  meets  once  a  year,  and  the  addresses  there 
delivered  are  published  by  the  department  in  the  form  of  an  annual 
report.  These  reports  are  distributed  gratis  to  all  applicants  and  sent 
as  well  to  each  member  of  the  local  institutes.  In  addition  to  the 
addresses  to  farmers'  institutes,  meetings  are  frequently  held  under 
the  supervision  of  the  department  at  central  points  throughout  the 
country  where  there  are  no  organized  institutes,  very  frequently  under 
the  auspices  of  the  local  agricultural  societies.  In  the  year  ended  with 
1897,  150  addresses  were  delivered  at  48  different  stations,  afternoon 
and  evening  meetings  being  held  in  many  places. 

MARYLAND. 

1891.     No  appropriation. 

1899.  The  law  establishes  a  department  of  farmers'  institutes,  whose 
director  is  appointed  by  the  trustees  of  the  Maryland   Agricultural 


16 

( 'ollege.  Oue  institute  is  to  be  held  annually  in  each  of  the  23  counties, 
••and  an  additional  one  in  each  county  if  deemed  necessary  and  desir- 
able." The  attendance  is  probably  4,000  to  5,000.  The  sum  of  $3,000 
is  appropriated  for  the  purpose.  There  is  no  State  department  of 
agriculture. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

1891.  Each  incorporated  agricultural  society  in  the  State  complying 
with  the  State  Law  and  regulations  of  the  board  of  agriculture 
received  an  annual  bounty  of  $000.  Each  society  was  required  to 
hold  at  least  three  institutes  each  year.  In  1800.  36  societies  held  129 
institutes.  The  State  board  of  agriculture  also  held  one  public  three- 
day  meeting,  for  which  $800  was  expended.  The  State  also  appro- 
priated funds  for  other  general  institutes,  and  for  these  institutes  from 
$600  to  $700  was  used. 

1899.  The  basis  of  the  farmers'  institutes  in  Massachusetts  is  the 
incorporated  agricultural  societies  of  the  State  which  receive  the  State 
bounty,  amounting  to  8000  a  year,  and  comply  with  State  regulations 
concerning  the  holding  of  fairs  and  institutes,  as  explained  above. 
The  secretary  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture  works  in  conjunction 
with  the  officers  of  such  societies,  being  consulted  in  respect  to  speak- 
ers, subjects,  etc.  The  secretary  each  year  prints  a  list  of  speakers 
and  subjects.  This  list  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  proper  officers  of 
the  various  societies,  and  from  this  list  said  officers  generally  select 
speakers.  When  the  selection  is  made,  the  secretary  of  the  State 
board  of  agriculture  is  notified,  and  he  secures  the  speakers  selected  if 
possible.  The  State  board  secures  in  this  way  one  speaker  for  each 
institute,  and  this  speaker  receives  810  and  expenses  for  his  services 
(the  society  furnishing  hall,  advertising,  etc.),  this  money  being  paid 
out  of  an  appropriation  to  the  State  board  of  agriculture  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  officers  of  the  local  societies  may  engage  other  speakers  if 
they  see  tit,  and  if  the  speakers  are  approved  by  the  secretary  of  the 
State  board  he  may  pay  said  speakers  as  above  indicated.  The  officers 
of  the  local  societies  may  also  engage  other  speakers,  thus  having  more 
than  oue  for  a  single  institute,  but  only  one  speaker  will  be  paid  from 
the  funds  of  the  State  board.  Farmers'  clubs  and  granges  also  hold 
occasional  institutes,  paying  for  their  own  speakers.  Frequently  a 
local  grange  cooperates  with  the  local  agricultural  society,  the  State 
board  of  agriculture  paying  for  one  speaker  for  the  society  and  the 
grange  paying  for  another.  Each  incorporated  agricultural  society 
must  hold  at  least  three  institutes  yearly  in  order  to  receive  the  State 
bounty.  The  stronger  societies  hold  more  than  that  number,  some  of 
them  as  many  as  five  or  six.  If  the  society  holds  more,  it  must  pay 
the  speakers.  There  are  35  societies  in  the  State,  making,  therefore,  a 
minimum  number  of  105  institutes.  The  institutes  are  held  in  such 
towns  or  cities  lying  within  the  territory  from  which  the  members  and 


17 

exhibitors  of  the  societies  come,  as  the  Bociety  may  select.  The  selec- 
tion varies  from  year  to  year,  bo  thai   in  the  course  of  a   few  years 

practically  all  considerable  towns  in  the  State  arc  reached.  The  State 
includes  about  360  Cities  and  towns,  so  all  towns  may  be  reached  within 
three  years. 

The  board  of  agriculture  may  furnish  institute  lecturers  to  other 
than  incorporated  societies.  The  board  held  L25  institutes  during  the 
calendar  year  L898,  L22  during  IS!*!*.  The  total  attendance  at  insti- 
tutes during  L899  was  between  11,000  and  12,000.  Lecturers  were  fur- 
nished for  98  institutes,  at  a  total  cost  of  $  1.409.04. 

MICHIGAN. 

1891.  No  separate  appropriation,  an  item  for  farmers'  institutes 
being  inserted  annually  in  the  appropriations  made  to  the  State  board 
of  agriculture.  This  was  first  given  in  1870-77,  the  amount  being 
$104.30.  It  has  varied  from  that  amount  to  *7.">0.  which  was  the  appro- 
priation in  1801. 

1890.  Institutes  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  State  board,  of 

agriculture  by  virtue  of  a  special  act  of  the  legislature.     This  board 

has  charge  of  the  Agricultural  College,  so  that  it  amounts  to  a  college 

supervision  of  the  institutes.     The  director  of  the  experiment  statiou 

connected   with   the  college  is  superintendent  of  farmers'  institutes. 

The  institutes  are  held  by  couuties  so  far  as  possible.     In  1808-99,  67 

two-day  county  institutes  were  held,  107  one-day  meetings,  and  the 

••State  round-up"'  institute.     The  total  attendance  at  all  sessions  of 

these  meetings  was  about  100,000.     The  legislature  appropriated  s^OO 

for  this  work.     A  bulletin  giving  the  proceedings  of  the  institute  is 

published. 

MINNESOTA. 

1801.  Annual  appropriation,  87,000.  The  first  appropriation,  85,000, 
was  made  in  1887. 

1809.  In  Minnesota  farmers*  institutes  are  held  under  the  auspices 
of  an  administrative  board,  consisting  of  three  members  of  the  board 
of  regeuts  of  the  university  and  the  presidents  of  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Society,  State  Horticultural  Society,  and  State  Dairy  Asso- 
ciation. The  minimum  number  is  fixed  by  law  at  40  annually.  The 
meetings  are  distributed  by  the  administrative  board  upon  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  superintendent,  and  his  recommendation  is  based 
upon  the  calls  of  the  localities  and  knowledge  of  the  conditions.  There 
were  held  during  1800,  59  institute  meetings,  with  a  total  attendance 
of  22,600.  A  State  appropriation  of  $13,500  is  made  annually.  Minne- 
sota has  no  State  department  of  agriculture. 

MISSISSIPPI. 

1891.  Xo  appropriation. 

1899.     The  institutes  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  director  of 
the    experiment    station,    at   places    from    which    applications   come. 
17073— So.  79 2 


18 

Twenty-eight  meetings,  with  a  total  attendance  of  2,000,  were  held  in 
L899.  One  thousand  dollars  a  year  is  available  for  the  purpose  of 
institutes.    There  is  a  State  department  of  agrieulture. 

MISSOURI. 

1891.  There  was  an  appropriation,  for  eacli  of  two  years,  of  65,000. 
Expenses  of  members  of  board  of  agriculture  attending  meetings,  per 
year,  8500.  Institutes  were  planned  for  56  counties  of  the  State  dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1891-92. 

The  institute  work  was  established  in  1882  by  Prof.  J.  W.  Sanborn, 
then  secretary  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture.  The  board  was  then 
receiving  $2,500  per  annum  to  carry  on  all  its  work,  and  out  of  this 
sum  the  expenses  of  a  very  limited  series  of  farmers'  institutes  were 
met.  Ity  the  aid  of  the  members  of  the  faculty  of  the  Agricultural 
College,  who  gave  their  time  during  vacations  and  when  they  could 
be  spared  from  their  classroom  work,  and  volunteer  assistance  from 
public-spirited  farmers,  the  work  was  carried  on  without  any  special 
appropriation  for  the  purpose  from  the  general  one  made  to  the  board, 
and  which  at  any  time  never  exceeded  $3,000  per  annum.  The  work 
progressed  slowly  from  the  time  of  its  organization,  and  steadily  grew 
in  popularity  until  the  demand  was  so  great  for  institute  meetings  that 
the  legislature  recognized  the  necessity  for  making  a  liberal  appropria- 
tion for  carrying  it  on.  The  institute  work  did  more  toward  securing 
the  increase  from  83,000  to  812,000  per  year  for  carrying  on  the  work 
of  the  board  of  agriculture  than  any  other  of  the  lines  of  work  which 
the  board  prosecutes. 

1899.  Institutes  in  Missouri  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  State 
board  of  agriculture.  About  50  are  held  each  year.  The  institutes  are 
held  on  request  at  places  which  have  facilities  for  convenient  access  by 
rail.  The  secretary  tries  to  distribute  to  all  parts  of  the  State.  About 
67  meetings  were  held  in  1899,  the  attendance  at  which  varied  from 
60  or  70  to  3,000  or  4,000.  Three  thousand  dollars  is  appropriated 
annually  for  institute  purposes. 

MONTANA. 

1891.    No  institutes  at  this  date. 

1899.  Institutes  in  Montana  are  given  by  the  officers  of  the  Agri- 
cultural College.  About  18  were  held  during  1899,  with  a  total  attend- 
ance of  555.  There  are  no  funds  specifically  available  for  the  purpose. 
The  local  expenses  are  borne  by  the  various  communities,  and  the  rail- 
ways give  transportation. 

NEBRASKA. 

1891.  No  appropriation  by  the  State.  Institutes  had  been  held  for 
ten  or  twelve  years,  however,  through  the  efforts  of  individuals  and 
societies.    About  fifty  institutes  were   arranged   for   the    winter  of 


19 

L891-92,  bo  be  followed  by  a  week  or  ben  days' institute  at  Lincoln, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  State  Oniversity.  These  were  supported  by 
appropriations  from  the  following  Bources:  Board  of  regents  of  tin- 
State  university,  $300;  State  board  of  agriculture,  $100;  State  Horti- 
cultural Society.  $100;   State   Dairymen's  Association.  $100. 

L899.  Institutes  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Tniversity  of 
Nebraska.  The  board  of  regents  of  the  university  elects  the  manager 
of  the  institutes,  and  upon  bis  recommendation  disburses  the  money 
appropriated  for  institute  work.  The  report  of  the  manager  of  the 
institutes  is  incorporated  with  the  biennial  report  of  the  regents  to  the 
governor,  just  as  are  the  reports  of  the  deans  of  colleges  and  directors  of 
schools  included  in  the  university.  There  were  50  institutes  held  last 
year  and  a  somewhat  less  number  during  each  of  the  two  previous 
years.  The  meetings  are  held  at  points  in  the  State  from  which 
applications  are  reeeived.  Either  the  manager  or  a  deputy  visits  the 
points  in  the  State  where  it  is  desirable  to  have  institutes  held,  and 
works  up  an  interest.  It  is  not  desired  to  hold  a  meeting  in  the  same 
town  two  years  consecutively,  but  this  is  sometimes  done.  At  present 
the  number  of  applications  has  not  exceeded  the  uumber  of  institutes 
which  it  is  possible  to  hold.  In  distributing  the  meetings,  cognizance 
is  taken  of  districts  and  county  lines,  so  that  each  part  of  the  State 
receives  approximately  the  number  of  institutes  corresponding  to  its 
population.  This  is  all  at  the  discretion  of  the  institute  manager. 
Sixty  two  meetings  were  held  in  1899,  at  which  the  aggregate  attend- 
ance was  26,800.  There  is  $1,500  available  annually  for  institute  work. 
This  is  appropriated  by  the  State  legislature,  and  is  a  part  of  the 
appropriation  to  the  State  university.  There  is  a  State  board  of 
agriculture  in  this  State,  dating  back  to  a  very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  Territory.  It  is  a  well-organized,  self-perpetuating  body, 
and  conducts  the  State  fair  and  publishes  an  annual  report. 

NEVADA. 

1891.     No  appropriation. 

1899.  Farmers'  institutes  are  not  yet  organized  in  Nevada.  Lectures 
are  given  in  various  parts  of  the  State  by  officers  of  the  agricultural 
college  when  applications  are  made  for  them. 

NEW  BRUNSWICK. 

1899.  Farmers'  institute  meetings  are  held  under  the  direction  of 
the  commissioner  of  agriculture.  The  number  of  meetings  varies,  but 
runs  in  the  neighborhood  of  50  per  year.  There  were  75  in  1899,  with  a 
total  attendance  of  about  3,000.  The  meetings  are  distributed  as  fairly 
as  possible  throughout  all  the  sections  of  the  Province.  The  Provincial 
government  pays  the  cost  of  these  meetings,  which  usually  means 
about  $3,000  per  year.    There  is  a  Provincial  department  of  agriculture. 


20 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

1891.  About  $1,000  was  used  annually  for  farmers'  institutes. 
Previous  to  1891  the  amount  averaged  about  $600. 

1899.  Under  the  auspices  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture  20  insti- 
tutes (2  to  a  county)  are  held  each  year.  The  total  attendance  in  1899 
was  about  8,000.  In  the  work  from  81,500  to  $2,000,  given  by  the 
State,  is  expended. 

NEW  JERSEY. 

1891.  About  $2,000  of  the  amount  appropriated  to  the  State  board 
of  agriculture  was  used  annually  for  institutes.  The  county  boards  of 
agriculture  held  meetings  which  were  of  an  institute  character,  and 
these  boards  received  some  of  the  general  funds  appropriated  to  the 
State  board.     Sixteen  county  boards  had  been  organized. 

1899.  Institutes  are  held  under  and  by  direction  of  the  State  board 
of  agriculture,  officially  under  the  direction  of  the  executive  committee 
of  the  board,  directly  under  the  management  and  direction  of  the  secre- 
tary. From  30  to  40  are  held  each  fall  and  winter.  The  total  attend- 
ance at  the  30  institutes  held  during  1899  was  4,320.  The  organization 
of  the  New  Jersey  State  board  of  agriculture  is  somewhat  peculiar  in 
that  there  are  county  boards  of  agriculture  which  are  auxiliary  to  the 
State  board.  These  are  supposed  to  hold  about  four  meetings  a  year, 
at  the  beginning  of  each  season's  work,  and  they  are  of  a  semiinstitute 
character.  Lectures  and  discussions  are  had,  bearing  chiefly  on  the  work 
in  the  locality  where  the  meeting  is  held.  It  is  the  aim  to  hold  from 
one  to  three  meetings  in  each  county.  This  has  been  done,  with  the 
exception  of  three  counties — Hudson,  not  an  agricultural  county  j  Pas- 
saic, unorganized;  and  Ocean,  having  but  a  small  part  of  its  territory 
devoted  to  agricultural  purposes.  About  $2,000  per  year  are  available 
for  the  institutes.  The  total  appropriation  to  the  State  board  of  agri- 
culture is  80,000  annually.  Out  of  this  comes  the  secretary's  salary, 
stenographer's  pay,  postage,  expressage,  expense  of  executive  com- 
mittee, expense  of  other  committees,  expense  of  annual  meeting,  etc. 
The  executive  committee  endeavors  so  to  regulate  the  expenses  as  to 
have  about  the  amount  named  available  for  institutes.  No  definite 
sum  is  specified  by  law. 

NEW  MEXICO. 

1891.     No  appropriation. 

1899.  There  are  no  farmers1  institutes  in  the  Territory.  Three  years 
ago  there  was  a  farmers'  institute  at  Mesilla  Park,  held  in  the  college 
building,  directed  by  the  college  president,  who  was  assisted  by  the 
station  staff.  There  were  few  outsiders  who  took  part  in  the  pro- 
grammes. This  institute  was  repeated  two  seasons,  when  it  was  dis- 
continued. There  is  no  money  available  for  farmers'  institutes.  There 
is  no  department  of  agriculture  in  the  Territory. 


21 

NEW  YORK. 

L891.     Annual  appropriation  since  L888,  $10,000.    The  first  appropri 
ation,  $6,000,  was  made  in  L887.     From   70  to  80  institutes  were  held 
each  winter,  under  the  personal  charge  of  a  director  selected  by  the 
State  Agricultural  Society. 

1899.  The  annual  appropriation  has  been  $20,000  for  the  pasl  two 
years.  The  work  is  under  the  auspices  of  the  commissioner  of  agri- 
culture, Albany,  who  appoints  a  director  of  institutes.  About  300 
meetings  are  held  each  year,  in  places  from  which  applications  come. 
The  attendance  at  the  institutes  is  increasing  rapidly  and  is  now 
probably  75,000  or  more  annually. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. 

1891.  No  appropriation.  From  $250  to  $500  per  year  was  devoted 
to  institutes  by  the  State  board  of  agriculture  from  its  own  funds. 
The  lirst  institutes  were  held  in  1880  or  1887. 

1899.  The  department  of  agriculture,  immigration,  and  statistics  of 
North.  Carolina  is  supported  by  a  tonnage  tax  on  commercial  manures. 
The  department  is  under  the  control  of  a  board  of  agriculture,  one  of 
whose  functions  is  to  hold  farmers'  institutes.  The  board  of  agriculture 
may  use  its  discretion  as  to  amount  of  money  it  will  expend  and  num- 
ber of  institutes  it  will  hold.  The  institutes  have  not  been  systematic- 
ally placed  over  the  State,  but  have  rather  followed  the  applications 
aud  the  routes  which  the  institute  workers  have  outlined  as  desirable 
to  follow.  On  these  trips  institutes  are  generally  held  at  a  county  court- 
house. The  legislature  of  1897  elected  an  institute  holder.  Now  the 
director  and  professors  of  the  experiment  station  may  be  called  upon 
to  hold  institutes,  but  the  work  is  officially  in  the  hands  of  the  board 
of  agriculture. 

NORTH   DAKOTA. 

1891.     No  appropriation. 

1899.  Probably  the  first  institute  in  North  Dakota  was  held  at 
Casselton  in  1894.  In  the  following  summer  institutes  were  held  at 
Mayville  and  Buxton,  and  each  year  since  then  a  few  institutes  have 
been  held  at  different  points  in  the  State.  These  institutes  have  usu- 
ally been  secured  by  farmers  in  the  locality  who  have  been  interested 
in  the  work,  assisted  by  members  of  the  experiment  station  staff*.  Prob- 
ably an  average  of  five  a  year  have  been  held. 

There  is  a  State  department  of  agriculture  and  labor,  but  in  the  past 
it  has  had  no  direct  relation  with  institute  work ;  but  the  last  legislature 
appointed  an  assistant  dairy  commissioner  who  is  director  of  institute 
work,  and  appropriated  81,000  for  the  expenses  of  the  institutes  for 
the  biennial  period.  This  law  went  into  effect  the  1st  of  July.  Eleven 
institutes  were  held  in  1899,  with  a  total  attendance  of  about  1,200. 


22 

NOVA    SCOTIA. 

1891.  There  was  no  regular  organization  for  farmers'  institutes  in 
this  Province  in  1891,  and  no  money  was  given  by  the  government 
specially  for  this  purpose.  Professor  Smith,  principal  of  the  agricul- 
tural school,  held  meetings  in  the  western  counties  of  the  Province, 
and  one  of  the  graduates  of  the  school  was  employed  to  lecture  in  the 
Cape  Breton  counties  during  the  winter.  The  expenses  of  these  ofiicers 
were  borne  by  the  government. 

1899.  Nova  Scotia  has  not  a  department  for  agriculture,  like  some 
other  provinces  in  the  Dominion,  but  the  agricultural  work  of  the 
Province  is  done  through  the  secretary  for  agriculture  under  the  gov- 
ernment. There  are  no  institutes  as  such,  but  agricultural  societies 
number  about  120  in  the  whole  province.  These  are  organized  in  any 
section  where  not  less  than  25  farmers  unite  and  subscribe  a  sum  of 
not  less  than  840.  which  entitles  them  to  be  recognized  as  a  society  by 
the  government  and  to  a  portion  of  the  grant  to  agriculture  pro  rata  to 
the  amount  subscribed.  The  secretary  for  agriculture  holds  what 
might  be  called  institute  meetings  in  various  parts  of  the  province 
where  in  his  judgment  they  are  most  needed,  or  by  requests  from  lead- 
ing men  in  the  several  districts.  At  these  meetings  he  usually  is 
accompanied  by  the  Provincial  professor  of  horticulture  and  some  other 
prominent  agriculturist.  The  expenses  are  taken  out  of  the  grant  for 
agriculture,  the  total  grant  for  the  Province  for  all  purposes  being 
about  $25,000  annually.  This  includes  aid  to  agricultural  societies, 
bonus  to  creameries,  school  and  farm  of  agriculture  and  horticulture. 

OHIO. 

1891.  There  was  no  specific  appropriation  by  the  State  for  farmers' 
institutes.  The  funds  come  from  the  county  treasuries,  each  county 
appropriating  not  more  than  8200  annually.  For  1890-91  the  total 
fund  spent  for  institutes  in  Ohio  was  $7,823.56.  In  1890-91,  124  insti- 
tutes were  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture. 
In  1886-87  there  were  50;  1887-88,  GO;  1888-89,  02. 

1899.  Farmers'  institutes  in  Ohio  are  held  under  the  auspices  and  by 
direction  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture,  as  provided  by  law.  From 
one  to  four  institutes  are  held  in  each  of  the  88  counties  of  the  State, 
the  number  aggregating  274  for  the  season  1899-1900,  with  a  total 
average  attendance  of  98,210.  The  number  is  limited  by  law  to  four  in 
each  county.  Some  counties  hold  the  full  number  allowed,  others  have 
two,  or  three,  and  a  very  few  hold  only  one.  Societies  make  applica- 
tions for  meetings  to  be  held  in  their  respective  localities,  and  many 
more  applications  are  received  each  year  than  can  be  granted  under 
the  present  law.  There  is  available  for  expenses  of  the  institutes 
88,173.36.  and  for  the  payment  of  lecturers  employed  by  the  State  board 
of  agriculture  a  like  sum,  this  being  the  avails  of  a  per  capita  tax  of  6 


23 

mills,  no  county,  however,  contributing  more  than  $250.  There  is  as 
excellently  organized  and  very  active  State  board  of  agriculture  in  ( >hio. 
This  issues  a  descriptive  bulletin  designating  the  institutes  to  be  held 
during  the  year  and  an  annual  report  giving  the  proceedings.    The 

law  governing  farmers'  institutes  was  passed  April  5S6,  1890,  and 
amended  April  27,  1896. 

ONTARIO. 

1891.  The  number  of  farmers'  institutes  organized  in  Ontario,  as 
reported  in  L890,  was  78.  These  each  received  a  grant  from  the  Ontario 
government  of  $25,  and  a  similar  grant  from  the  county  council  of  the 
municipality  in  which  the  institute  was  organized.  Besides  this,  the 
Ontario  government  gave  $2,000  in  1891  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
the  professors  at  Gueiph,  who  devoted  the  greater  part  of  January  to 
attendance  at  these  meetings.  The  Gueiph  officers  divided  up  into 
three  or  four  groups,  and  took  with  each  group  a  representative  of  the 
Fruit  Growers'  Association  and  one  or  two  representative  farmers ;  and. 
they  were  out  continuously  for  three  or  four  weeks,  going  from  place  to 
place,  holding  meetings  which  had  been  previously  arranged  for  and 
advertised.  There  was  also  a  central  farmers1  institute,  which  held  its 
meeting  annually  in  Toronto  for  three  days,  and  at  this  meeting  one  or 
more  persons  represented  each  farmers'  institute  in  the  province.  The 
government  grant  to  this  was  $800. 

1899.  The  institutes  in  Ontario  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Ontario  department  of  agriculture,  directed  by  an  official  of  that  depart- 
ment, who  is  known  as  the  superintendent  of  farmers'  institutes.  The 
local  institutes  are  controlled  by  rules  and  regulations  that  have  the 
sanction  of  the  Ontario  government.  For  the  year  ended  June  30, 
1898,  some  60S  were  held.  During  the  year  ended  June  30,  1899,  677 
institute  meetings  were  held,  at  which  the  total  attendance  reported 
was  119,402.  The  number  of  institutes  varies  from  year  to  year,  accord- 
ing to  the  desire  of  those  locally  interested.  The  government  pays  the 
traveling  expenses  and  allowances  of  two  speakers  for  two  meetings  in 
each  institute  division,  which  is  usually  composed  of  four  townships. 
The  government  also  pays  the  allowances  of  one  or  two  speakers  who 
attend  four  supplementary  meetings  in  each  institute  district.  If  they 
want  to  hold  meetings  other  than  the  six  already  mentioned,  the  local 
institutes  are  required  to  pay  all  expenses  and  allowances.  The  Province 
is  divided  into  96  institute  districts,  and  the  endeavor  of  the  superin- 
tendent is  to  have  the  meetings  distributed  evenly  over  these  various 
districts.  The  result  is  that  all  parts  of  the  Province  are  reached.  The 
government  appropriation  for  farmers'  institute  work  is  $9,900.  This 
inolndes  the  salary  of  the  superintendent  and  the  expenses  of  his  office 
(but  this  does  not  include  the  cost  of  printing  and  publishing  the  annual 
report.     This  annual  report  goes  out  as  one  of  the  reports  of  the  depart- 


24 

ment,  and  is  charged  to  a  special  appropriation  set  apart  for  such  par- 
poses).  The  appropriation  includes  a  grant  of  |25  to  each  institute, 
conditional  upon  (25  being  voted  from  the  local  municipality.  The 
provincial  department  of  agriculture  is  presided  over  by  a  minister. 

who  is  a  member  of  the  government.  This  department  is  placed  on  the 
same  looting  as  the  other  departments  over  which  other  ministers 
preside. 

The  history  of  the  germ  of  the  institute  movement  in  Ontario  (and  in 
Canada  in  general)  is  given  by  C.  0.  James,  deputy  minister  of  agri- 
culture for  Ontario,  as  follows: 

January,  1885,  was  the  time  of  the  revival  of  farmers'  institute  work  in  Ontario. 
It  was  the  date  of  the  beginning  of  the  work  under  the  name  of  farmers*  institutes, 
and  the  main  inspiration  for  the  revival  of  the  work  at  that  time  was  the  success 
attending  the  farmers'  institute  work  iu  some  of  the  United  States.  This,  however, 
was  not  the  first  time  that  instruction  of  farmers  had  been  attempted.  The  original 
agricultural  societies  of  this  Province,  as  well  as  of  some  of  the  other  Provinces,  had 
made  instruction  through  papers  and  discussions  an  important  feature  of  their  work. 
Of  late  years  agricultural  societies  have  confined  themselves  to  the  holding  of  fair--, 
and  I  presume  that  is  one  reason  why  farmers'  institute  work  lias  been  so  successful. 
In  the  earlier  days  our  agricultural  societies  were  accustomed  to  offer  prizes  for 
essays  on  various  subjects,  such  as  the  growing  of  wheat,  the  growth  and  manufac- 
ture of  hemp  and  flax,  etc.  These  papers  were  read  at  the  annual  meeting  and 
discussed. 

The  first  agricultural  society  iu  Upper  Canada  was  organized  in  1792  or  1793,  and 
we  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  instruction  of  the  members  was  of  greater  moment 
than  the  holding  of  fairs.  This  society  formed  an  extensive  agricultural  library 
which  was  carried  on  for  the  benefit  of  its  members  for  a  number  of  years,  until  it 
was  finally  incorporated  with  the  public  library  of  the  old  town  of  Niagara.  In  1830 
agricultural  societies  were  especially  encouraged  by  an  act  passed  in  that  year,  and 
the  first  provincial  fair  was  held  in  1846.  From  that  time  forward  these  societies 
were  under  the  control  of  a  board  of  agriculture,  which  was  composed  of  a  large 
number  of  representative  farmers  of  the  Province.  Prof.  George  Bncklaud  was  for 
many  years  secretary.  He  conducted  a  course  in  agriculture  in  connection  with  the 
Toronto  University,  and  had  a  small  experimental  farm  within  the  present  limits  of 
the  city  of  Toronto.  He  was  accustomed  to  make  a  tour  of  the  agricultural  societies 
and  address  them  upon  various  agricultural  topics.  In  many  cases  these  agricul- 
tural societies  devoted  their  energies  and  funds  to  the  introduction  of  pure-bred 
stock  and  seed  grain,  and  in  a  few  sections  the  desire  for  instruction  not  being  fully 
met  by  the  agricultural  societies,  others  known  as  farmers'  clubs  were  organized. 
The  records  of  these  are  very  meager.  However,  I  have  before  me  reference  to  one 
which  may  be  of  interest.  It  is  contained  in  an  article  written  by  Mr.  Walter  Rid- 
dell,  sr.,  of  Cobourg,  and  refers  to  the  county  of  Northumberland,  about  70  miles 
east  of  Toronto.  He  says:  "  There  had  been  an  agricultural  society  iu  this  county 
before  we  knew  it.  The  first  society  was  formed  in  1824.  It  held  shows  and  plow- 
ing matches,  and  gave  prizes  for  best  managed  farms,  and  for  essays  on  wheat  cul- 
ture and  other  varying  subjects.  The  farmers'  club  was  begun  in  1846,  and  though 
often  dormant,  it  took  occasionally  lively  starts  and  held  sometimes  ten  or  twelve 
meetings  in  a  year.  The  subject  for  discussion  at  the  next  meeting  was  selected 
and  someone  appointed  to  undertake  it,  which  he  might  do  either  verbally  or  by 
written  paper.  The  subject  was  then  discussed  by  the  members.  This  has  been 
superseded  by  fanners'  institutes." 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  farmers' institutes  there  were  active  farmers' 
clubs   in    Pnshl inch    township,   Wellington   County,  and   at   St.  George  in  Brant 


25 

County,  and  the  members  of  these  clubs  a1  once  threw  their  energies  Into  the  farm- 
ers' institutes.     There  vrere  probably  many  others,  hut  their  record  baa  disappeared. 

M\  conclusion,  therefore,  ia  that,  while  the  year  1885  may  be  given  as  the  year  of 
the  revival  of  farmers'  institute  work  and  placing  it  upon  an  organized  ami  perma- 
nent footing,  i  lie  germs  of  the  work  must  be  looked  for  in  the  farmers'  clnba  and  the 
agricultural  societies,  the  earliest  of  which  dates  back  tor  over  one  hundred  years. 

The  first  agricultural  society  organized  a1  Quebec,  L 789,  published  a  small  volume 
containing  special  information  ami  suggesting  various  lines  of  experiments.  The 
report  was  \  ery  much  of  the  nature  of  the  lirst  report  of  the  New  York  society,  lT'.'L'. 

OREGON. 

181)1.     No  appropriation. 

1891).  The  institutes  in  Oregon  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Agricultural  College.  From  7  to  12,  or  even  15,  are  held  each  year,  and 
an  effort  is  made  to  visit  as  many  sections  of  the  State  as  possible,  at 
the  request  of  local  granges  and  other  organizations.  At  the  12  insti- 
tutes held  in  1899  the  total  attendance  was  about  1,600.  There  has 
been  no  regular  amount  available  for  this  work,  but  the  expenses  have 
been  borne  by  the  Agricultural  College  and  Experiment  Station  fund. 
There  is  no  State  department  of  agriculture. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  appropriation  for  institute  work  was  $1,000  in  1885 ;  $1,000  in 
1886;  $3,000  in  1887;  $3,000  in  1888;  $5,000  in  1889;  85,000  in  1890; 
$7,000  in  1891,  and  $7,000  in  1892,  with  the  addition  of  81,500  for 
expenses  of  members  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture  in  attending 
meetings.  Each  county  agricultural  society  elected  a  member  of  the 
State  board,  and  each  member  was  responsible  for  the  institutes  and 
expenditures  of  funds  in  his  district.  In  1890-91,  61  institutes  were 
held. 

1899.  In  Pennsylvania  the  institutes  are  held  under  the  direction 
of  the  deputy  secretary  of  agriculture,  who  is,  under  the  law,  the 
director  of  institutes.  Last  year  (1898-99),  308  institutes  were  held  in 
this  State,  the  total  attendance  being  over  50,000.  The  meetings  are 
distributed  according  to  the  number  of  farms  in  each  county:  two  days' 
institute  to  every  county  having  not  over  1,000  farms,  three  days'  insti- 
tute to  each  county  having  more  than  1,000  and  not  over  1.500;  after- 
wards one  day  for  each  1,500  farms  or  fraction  thereof  additional.  The 
legislature  has  appropriated  $12,500  per  year  for  institutes,  all  of  which 
is  available  for  the  carrying  on  of  the  work.  There  is  a  State  depart- 
ment of  agriculture,  composed  of  a  secretary,  deputy  secretary  (who  is 
director  of  institutes),  dairy  and  food  commissioner,  forestry  commis- 
sioner, veterinarian  and  economic  zoologist.  The  institute  work  is  very 
thoroughly  organized. 

QUEBEC. 

18!'9.  The  Province  has  no  regularly  organized  farmers'  institutes, 
but  it  has  farmers'  clubs,  which  are,  in  a  certain  degree,  a  similar 


26 

organization.  Daring  the  year  1898  there  were  510  farmers'  clubs  in 
operation.  One  can  be  established  in  each  parish  or  township.  A  club 
has  seven  directors.  Its  object  is  to  promote  improvement  in  agri- 
culture and  horticulture,  (1)  By  holding  meetings  for  discussion  and 
for  hearing  lectures  on  subjects  connected  with  the  theory  and  practice 
of  improved  husbandry;  (2)  by  promoting  the  circulation  of  agricul- 
tural papers;  (3)  by  offering  prizes  or  essays  on  questions  of  theoretical 
or  practical  agriculture;  (4)  by  importing,  or  otherwise  procuring, 
animals  of  superior  breeds,  new  varieties  of  plants  and  grain,  and  seeds 
of  the  best  kind;  (5)  by  organizing  plowing  matches,  competitions 
respecting  standing  crops  and  the  best  cultivated  farms;  (G)  by  pro- 
curing books,  reviews,  and  newspapers  treating  of  agricultural  sub- 
jects for  the  use  of  their  members;  (7)  by  promoting  and  favoring 
experiments  in  farming,  manure,  and  improved  agricultural  machinery 
and  implements. 

The  Journal  of  Agriculture,  published  twice  a  month  by  the  depart- 
ment of  agriculture  in  both  English  and  French,  is  sent  to  every 
member  of  a  club.  The  Journal  penetrates  now  into  every  region  of 
the  Province.  Many  of  those  clubs  have  several  meetings  every  year, 
in  order  to  hear  lectures  and  discussions  on  agricultural  subjects.  Two 
lecturers  are  employed  by  the  department  to  give  lectures  before  those 
clubs.  Other  lecturers  also  visit  those  associations.  Besides  the  salary 
of  the  official  lecturers,  there  is  a  vote  of  $3,000  to  pay  the  traveling- 
expenses  of  those  lecturers.  The  salary  of  each  lecturer  is  $1,000  a 
year.  The  annual  grant  given  by  the  Provincial  government  to  each 
club  is  from  $25  to  $50,  according  to  the  number  of  members.  The 
total  amount  paid  last  year  was  $19,542.71.  The  number  of  their  mem- 
bers was  40,903;  they  subscribed  $51,037.85.  In  1887  they  spent  for 
agricultural  purposes  $85,747.92. 

The  lectures  given  before  the  farmer  s?  clubs  are  popular  and  well 
attended.  The  institutes  or  meetings  are  generally  under  the  auspices 
of  the  farmers'  clubs;  sometimes  the  lecturers  will  hold  meetings  of 
farmers  in  a  parish  or  township  where  there  is  no  club,  but,  in  such 
cases,  the  organization  is  not  so  good  and  the  meetings  are  not  so  well 
attended.  The  official  lecturers  hold  every  year  about  200  or  300  meet- 
ings of  farmers.  Many  clubs  hear  lectures  from  persons  not  employed 
by  the  department.  There  are  many  lectures  given  every  year  by 
Roman  Catholic  priests  who  take  an  interest  in  agriculture.  The  exist- 
ence and  usefulness  of  many  clubs  are  due  to  some  of  these  priests. 
The  annual  programme  adopted  by  each  club  must  be  approved  by  the 
commissioner  of  agriculture. 

RHODE    ISLAND. 

1891.  No  specific  appropriation.  About  10  institutes  were  held 
during  the  year  at  an  average  cost  of  about  $40  each.  These  were  held 
uuder  the  auspieces  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture.     For  a  few  win- 


27 

fcera  previous  bo  L889-90  the  state  Agricultural  Society  held  a  course 
of  about  6  lectures  at  the  society's  rooms  in  Providence,  the  expense 
being  partly  borne  by  the  board  of  agriculture.  Comparatively  few 
tanners  could  attend  these  meetings,  and  in  January,  L890,  the  board 
held  an  institute  in  Kingston,  following  the  meeting  of  the  State  <  Grange. 
After  thai  date  institutes  were  held  in  various  parts  of  the  State. 

L899.  The  farmers'  institutes  which  are  held  in  Rhode  Island  are 
conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture,  which, 
bylaw,  is  directed  to  hold  one  institute  in  each  county  and  as  many 
more  as  may  be  practicable.  The  State  has  5  counties.  As  many 
as  26  have  been  held  in  one  year.  They  are  often  held  in  cooper- 
ation with  grange  organizations.  There  is  no  specitic  sum  set  aside 
for  institutes,  but  they  are  supported  from  the  general  appropriation 
to  the  State  board  of  agriculture.  Three  hundred  dollars  a  year  is 
considered  to  be  a  short  allowance. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

1891.  The  State  Agricultural  Society  for  a  number  of  years,  com- 
mencing about  1874,  held  summer  meetings  in  different  parts  of  the 
State,  at  which  essays  were  read  and  discussions  had  on  agricultural 
topics;  but  no  funds  were  appropriated  for  this  purpose  until  18S7  or 
1888,  after  which  amounts  ranging  from  $200  to  8300  were  expended 
annually  for  this  purpose  by  the  department  of  agriculture,  until  the 
abolishment  of  this  department,  which  occurred  in  December,  181)0,  the 
duties  of  the  department  of  agriculture  devolving  upon  the  trustees  of 
Clemson  Agricultural  College. 

1899.  About  16  institutes  are  held  annually  under  the  auspices  of 
Clemson  College.  They  are  held  wherever  applied  for.  The  total 
attendance  during  1899  is  estimated  at  5,000.  About  $1,500  per  year 
is  available  for  this  work,  the  expenses  of  which  are  borne  by  Clemson 
College  and  the  experiment  station. 

SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

1891.  The  State  legislature  had  authorized  the  board  of  control  of 
the  State  Agricultural  College  to  provide  for  holding  tanners'  institutes, 
but  appropriated  no  funds  for  the  purpose.  Accordingly,  the  trustees 
directed  the  faculty  of  the  college  to  provide  programmes  and  arrange 
for  a  series  of  five  institutes  during  December  and  January,  1891-1*1* 
As  no  funds  were  appropriated,  consequently  all  expenses  had  to  be 
met  by  the  communities  where  institutes  were  desired.  The  college 
printed  a  roster  of  its  officers  who  could  take  part  in  the  institute  work, 
with  the  subject  which  they  wished  to  discuss.  Communities  that 
desired  institutes  applied  directly  to  the  college. 

1899.  All  institutes  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  State  Agri- 
cultural College.  There  is  a  director  of  the  farmers*  institutes,  who  is 
paid  by  the  State  appropriation.      The  number  of  institutes  is  not 


28 

Limited.  About  35  are  held  each  year.  Any  section  in  which  sufficient 
interest  obtains  can  have  provided  for  it  an  institute  by  making  appli- 
cation to  the  director.  The  last  Legislature  appropriated  (2,000  for  the 
farmers' institutes.  This  is  for  one  year.  There  is  no  State  depart- 
ment of  agriculture  in  South  Dakota  but  there  is  a  State  board  of 
agriculture,  which  has  charge  of  the  State  fair. 

TENNESSEE. 

1891.  There  was  no  appropriation  for  the  special  purpose  of  organ- 
izing farmers'  institutes,  but  the  commissioner  of  agriculture  had 
organized  institutes  in  over  one-half  of  the  State.  The  work  was  done 
by  the  assistant  commissioners  in  connection  with  their  general  work, 
and  they  were  paid  out  of  the  general  appropriation  made  for  the 
department  of  agriculture. 

1899.  Institutes  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  experiment  sta- 
tion, about  $500  of  the  station  funds  being  set  aside  for  the  work. 
This  work  was  begun  in  January,  1809.  During  the  year  13  institutes 
were  held  under  station  auspices,  with  an  estimated  total  attendance  of 
2,400.  There  is  a  department  of  agriculture  in  the  State,  which  also 
holds  institutes. 

TEXAS. 

1891.  Annual  appropriation  for  institutes  in  this  year  was  8500,  to 
be  used  under  the  direction  of  the  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Col- 
lege. It  was  expected  that  one  institute  would  be  held  in  each  Con- 
gressional district. 

1899.  There  is  no  system  of  State  institutes  in  Texas.  A  number 
of  institutes  are  held  throughout  the  year,  each  independent  of  the 
other.  No  record  is  kept  of  the  number,  but  there  are  probably  not 
more  than  15  every  season.  It  is  estimated  that  from  20  to  25  were  held 
in  1899,  with  an  average  attendance  of  35  to  15.  The  institutes  are 
spontaneous  in  the  localities  where  held.  No  money  is  available  for 
institutes,  strictly  speaking.  Experiment  station  officers  often  attend 
the  institutes,  their  expenses  being  met  by  the  station.  There  is  a 
State  department  of  agriculture  in  Texas,  but  for  lack  of  appropriations 
it  is  able  to  do  little. 

UTAH. 

1891.     No  appropriation. 

1899.  Utah  institutes  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Agricul- 
tural College.  At  least  one  institute  per  year  must  be  held  in  each 
county  of  the  State,  which  would  require  20,  but  a  greater  number  than 
this  is  usually  held — about  30  in  1899.  Besides  the  one  in  each  county 
required  by  law,  the  institutes  are  usually  held  at  places  where  the 
people  apply  for  them.  Fifteen  hundred  dollars  is  the  permaueut 
annual  appropriation  to  meet  the  traveling  expenses  of  those  who  take 
part  in  the  institutes.     The  professors  are  expected  to  contribute  the 


29 

time.  An  annual  bulletin  is  printed,  which  contains  the  lectures  given 
at  what  is  termed  a  central  institute,  one  of  which  is  held  each  year. 
The  institute  law  also  makes  it  the  duty  of  those  conducting  institutes 
to  encourage  and  assist  the  organization  of  local  agricultural  societies. 
There  is  no  State  department  of  agriculture. 

VERMONT. 

1801.  At  this  time  there  was  an  annual  appropriation  of  $2,500  for 
institutes.  Every  other  year  a  report  was  printed  by  the  board  of 
agriculture  at  a  cost  of  $1,500. 

1809.  At  present  institutes  are  held  in  Vermont  under  the  auspices 
of  the  State  board  of  agriculture,  a  body  of  six  men,  all  gubernatorial 
appointments.  The  number  ranges  from  25  to  40  a  year.  The  law 
required  the  board  to  hold  at  least  one  meeting  in  every  comity  each 
year.  The  meetings  are  placed  more  particularly  in  accordance  with 
local  request,  once  the  terms  of  the  law  are  fulfilled;  thus  some  counties 
have  but  a  single  meeting,  others,  it  may  be,  four.  Five  thousand  dol- 
lars annually  is  appropriated  for  this  purpose.  At  no  time  has  this 
amount  been  spent.  There  is  no  State  department  of  agriculture,  as 
such,  in  the  State.  The  State  board  of  agriculture  is  the  central  agri- 
cultural bureau. 

VIRGINIA. 

1891.  At  this  date  there  was  no  appropriation  for  farmers'  institutes, 
although  the  State  board  of  agriculture  used  $250  of  the  general  funds 
for  this  purpose. 

1899.  In  Virginia  there  is  no  regular  institute  bureau,  nor  any  per- 
son charged  with  the  conduct  of  the  institutes.  The  State  board  of 
agriculture  used  to  hold  some  half  dozen  or  so  institutes  during  the 
course  of  a  year,  paying  the  expenses  of  the  same  out  of  its  own  funds, 
but  recently  this  has  been  dropped.  There  are,  however,  a  number  of 
excellent  farmers'  clubs  in  the  State  which  carry  on  the  institute  work 
from  year  to  year  at  their  own  expense,  if  they  can  not  secure  assistance 
from  the  State  board  of  agriculture,  or  from  the  Polytechnic  Institute 
(Agricultural  College).  It  is  the  custom  of  the  institute  always  to  aid 
them  by  furnishing  at  least  one  speaker.  The  number  varies  not 
more  than  a  half  do/en  in  one  year;  but  of  lesser  meetings  not  strictly 
institutes,  a  considerable  number  are  held  over  the  State.  There  is  a 
State  department  of  agriculture,  which  is  charged  with  the  fertilizer 
control  work,  and  has  at  its  head  a  commissioner  of  agriculture  and 
employs  chemists.  By  recent  amendment  of  the  State  fertilizer  law. 
it  is  expected  that  the  income  of  the  department  will  be  materially 
increased,  and  the  holding  of  institutes  is  to  be  made  a  feature  of  the 
work  of  the  department. 


30 

WASHINGTON. 

1801.    No  appropriation. 

1899.  Institutes  in  Washington  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Stale  experiment  station.  They  are  held  as  often  as  communities  re- 
quest them  and  members  of  the  stall"  can  be  detailed  to  attend  them — 
usually  10  to  20  a  year.  Xo  definite  sum  is  provided.  Expenses  are 
borne  from  the  general  State  appropriation  to  the  Agricultural  College. 
There  is  no  State  department  of  agriculture. 

WEST  VIRGINIA. 

1891.     No  appropriation. 

1899.  All  the  farmers'  institutes  in  West  Virginia  are  held  under 
the  auspices  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture.  During  the  fiscal  year 
ended  September  o0,  1899.  (IT  institutes  were  held  in  the  55  counties  of 
the  State,  the  estimated  total  attendance  being  14,000.  There  is  one 
county  institute,  and  then  a  second  one  in  the  same  county  when  much 
interest  is  manifested.  Annual  appropriation  to  the  board,  including 
salaries,  printing,  looking  after  diseased  animals,  etc.,  is  $7,800,  about 
$2,500  of  which  goes  for  institutes.  The  board  may  use  more  or  less, 
at  its  discretion. 

WISCONSIN. 

1891.  Annual  appropriation.  $12,000.  The  first  funds  were  given  in 
1885.  The  first  two  years  the  annual  appropriation  was  85.000.  The 
proceedings  of  the  institutes  were  printed  each  year  in  a  volume,  of 
which  31,000  are  issued.  From  70  to  75  institutes  were  held  during  the 
winter,  with  an  average  attendance  of  over  500. 

1899.  In  Wisconsin  institutes  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the 
board  of  regents  of  the  State  University.  About  120  meetings  are 
held  each  year,  distributed  as  evenly  over  the  State  as  possible.  The 
number  held  in  1899  was  127,  with  an  aggregate  attendance  of  about 
55,000.  An  annual  appropriation  of  812.000  for  their  maintenance  has 
been  voted  by  the  legislature.  There  is  a  State  board  of  agriculture 
in  Wisconsin  which  as  yet  bears  no  official  relation  to  the  institutes. 
The  Agricultural  College  cooperated  with  the  institutes  to  the  extent 
of  doing  a  limited  amount  of  work  at  a  few  institute  meetings.  One  of 
the  most  important  parts  of  the  work  is  the  publication  of  00,000 
copies  each  year  of  the  Farmers'  Institute  Bulletin,  which  has  proved 
very  popular. 

WYOMING. 

1891.     Xo  appropriation. 

1899.  Little  attempt  has  yet  been  made  to  hold  farmers'  institutes 
in  Wyoming.  At  Lander,  a  few  years  ago,  the  farmers  organized  and 
held  a  few  local  institutes.  There  is  no  fetate  department  of  agriculture 
or  society  pertaining  to  agricultural  pursuits,  except  the  Wyoming 
Live  Stock  Commission.     Xo  money  is   available  for  institute  work, 


31 

unless  it  be  taken  from  college  or  station  funds.  Agriculture  and 
horticulture  arc  new  in  Wyoming;  the  population  is  small  and  widely 
scattered:  but  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  station  officers  thai  the  time  lias 
come  to  begin  the  institutes  and  to  place  the  work  of  the  station  and 
college  before  the  farmers  and  ranchmen. 

SUMMARY. 

The  most  noticeable  feature  in  the  foregoing  statistics  is  the  fact  that, 
with  about  three  exceptions,  every  State  and  province  is  making  an 
effort  to  reach  the  farmers  by  means  of  institutes.  1  n  most  of  the  older 
States  the  institute  movement  has  passed  its  experimental  stage,  and 
is  bo  well  grounded  in  public  opinion  and  policy  as  to  be  a  recognized 
part  of  governmental  or  educational  machinery. 

The  second  feature  in  importance  is  the  variety  of  ways  in  which  the 
institutes  are  promulgated  and  administrated.  The  machinery  of 
administration  is  of  two  general  kinds — it  may  be  directly  under  gov- 
ernmental auspices,  or  directly  in  the  hands  of  an  educational  institu- 
tion. The  governmental  control  may  be  of  four  general  kinds — in 
charge  of  a  State  department  of  agriculture,  in  charge  of  an  independ- 
ent State  officer,  in  charge  of  county  organizations,  in  charge  of  rural 
societies  which  receive  State  or  provincial  bounties.  Of  the  47  States 
and  provinces  reported  in  the  foregoing  pages,  24  have  farmers'  insti- 
tutes more  or  less  under  governmental  control,  and  23  have  them  under 
the  auspices  of  the  agricultural  college  or  experiment  station.  The 
greater  number  of  instances  in  which  governmental  control  obtains  are 
in  the  older  States;  and  it  is  in  the  older  States  that  the  machinery 
of  governmental  bureaus  was  likely  to  have  been  well  established 
before  the  colleges  became  thoroughly  intrenched  in  public  opinion.  In 
the  Canadian  provinces,  the  institute  work  proceeds  directly  from  gov- 
ernmental departments,  and  the  same  is  true  in  the  following  States: 
Connecticut,  Delaware,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Maine, 
Massachusetts,  Missouri,  New  Hampshire,  New  Jersey,  New  York, 
North  Carolina,  North  Dakota,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Ehode  Island, 
Vermont,  West  Virginia.  These  States  number  19,  and  they  comprise 
all  the  States  east  of  and  including  New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  The 
States  in  which  the  institutes  are  directly  under  the  auspices  of  the 
agricultural  college  or  experiment  station  are:  Arkansas,  California, 
Colorado,  Florida,  Georgia,  Indiana,  Kansas,  Maryland.  Michigan, 
Minnesota,  Mississippi,  Montana,  Nebraska,  Oregon,  South  Carolina, 
Tennessee,  Utah,  Washington.  Wisconsin.  These  States  also  number 
19,  and  they  are  Southern  and  Western  States.  There  remain  a  num- 
ber of  States  in  which  the  institutes  are  not  well  organized  or  in  which 
they  are  under  dual  control.  Of  the  19  States  in  which  the  institutes 
emanate  from  Government  bounty,  three  (Delaware,  Illinois,  Iowa)  pros- 
ecute the  work  on  the  basis  of  county  organizations;  in  the  remaining 
1<>  the  work  is  more  intimately  connected  with  a  State  department  of 
agriculture,  and  which  has  additional  duties. 


32 

Twenty-one  States  and  provinces  make  stated  and  specific  appro- 
priations toi  institute  work,  and  the  amounts  aggregate  8140,440.72.  In 
the  other  States  and  provinces  the  amount  of  funds  to  be  devoted  to 
the  work  is  more  or  less  discretionary,  and  is  derived  from  general 
appropriations  to  the  department  of  agriculture,  from  bounties  depend- 
ent upon  the  number  of  participants  in  the  institutes,  or  from  the  funds 
of  the  college  or  experiment  station.  The  writer  estimates  these  annual 
expenditures  in  the  past  year  (1899)  to  have  been  830,000.  Nine  States 
and  one  province  make  specific  appropriations  of  $5,000  and  more: 
N\-w  York.  $20,000;  Ohio,  $16,340.7l>;  Illinois,  $15,650;  Minnesota, 
$13,500;  Pennsylvania,  $12,500;  Wisconsin,  812,000;  Ontario,  $9,900; 
Michigan,  $5,500;  Indiana,  $5,000;  Vermont,  $5,000.  Altogether 
there  is  a  grand  total  of  more  than  $170,000  expended  for  farmers' 
institutes,  or  twice  the  sum  estimated  to  have  been  expended  in  1891. 

From  statistics  collated  by  the  Office  of  Experiment  Stations  it  is 
estimated  that  about  2,000  institutes  were  held  in  the  United  States 
during  1899,  which  were  attended  by  over  half  a  million  farmers. 

The  importance  of  institutes  as  factors  in  the  general  education  of 
farmers  in  some  of  the  States  where  they  have  been  most  successful 
may  be  indicated  by  the  following  brief  statistics : 

In  Wisconsin  there  are  now  annually  held  120  institutes,  with  an 
average  attendance  of  over  50,000  persons;  in  Massachusetts  125  insti- 
tutes, with  an  attendance  of  about  11,000  farmers;  in  West  Virginia 
over  60  institutes,  with  a  total  attendance  of  14,000;  in  Minnesota  50 
institutes,  of  two  or  three  days  each,  with  an  attendance  at  each  of 
from  300  to  1,000;  in  Indiana  100  institutes,  with  an  attendance  of  over 
25,000:  in  Kansas  135  institutes,  with  a  total  attendance  of  20,000;  in 
Michigan  institutes  in  nearly  every  county,  and  a  total  attendance 
reported  to  reach  120,000;  in  Nebraska  00  institutes,  with  a  total 
attendance  of  over  26,000;  in  Pennsylvania  about  300  institutes,  with 
a  total  attendance  of  over  50,000;  in  Ohio  250  institutes  in  88  counties, 
with  an  aggregate  attendance  of  about  90,000;  in  Xew  York  over  300 
institutes  yearly,  with  a  total  attendance  of  about  75,000;  in  California 
about  80  institutes  annually,  with  a  total  attendance  of  16,000. 

One  who  considers  these  figures  must  be  impressed  with  the  large- 
ness of  the  effort  which  is  being  made  to  improve  the  agricultural 
condition.  Generous  as  they  are,  they  are  still  greatly  inadequate  to  the 
work  which  needs  to  be  done,  and  the  next  decade  will  see  much  larger 
sums  appropriated.  Even  without  knowing  it.  the  public  is  coming  to 
see  that  the  mere  establishment  of  agricultural  colleges  and  experiment 
stations  and  State  departments  of  agriculture  is  not  sufficient  to  consum- 
mate the  education  of  the  rural  population:  for  farmers  are  a  solitary 
people  and  do  not  combine  as  readily  as  those  of  other  occupations. 


33 

OFFICIALS    IN     CHARGE     OF    FARMERS     INSTITUTES     IN    THE 

UNITED    STATES. 

Alabama I.  F.  Culver,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Montgomery. 

C. A.  (an,  Alabama  Polytechnic  Institute,  Auburn. 

Arizona ..„.R.  il.  Forbes,  Director  Agricultural  Experiment  station,  Tucson. 

Arkansas W.  G.  Vincenheller,  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  Payette- 

ville. 
California E.  J.  Wickson,  University  of  California,  Berkeley. 

D.  T.  Fowler,  Conductor   Farmers'   Institutes   for  Central    and 
Northern  California,  Berkeley. 

A.  J.  Cook,  Conductor  Farmers'  Institute-  for  Southern  Califor- 
nia, Claremont. 
COD  ►RADO B.  0.  Aylesworth,  President  State  Agricultural  ( College,  Fort  Col- 
lins. 

CONNECTICUT T.  S.  Gold,  Secretary  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  West  Cornwall. 

F.  H.  Stadtnmeller,  Secretary  Connecticut  Dairymen's  Associa- 
tion, Elmwood. 
J.  H.  Merriman,  Secretary  Connecticut  Pomological  Society,  New- 
Britain. 

DELAWARE Wesley    Webb,    Superintendent    Farmers'    Institute    for    Kent 

County,  Dover. 
A.  T.  Neale  (Director  Agricultural  Experiment  Station),  Super- 
intendent Farmers'  Institute  for  Newcastle  County,  Newark. 
S.  H.  Messick,  Secretary  Farmers'  Institute  for  Sussex  County, 
Bridgeville. 

Florida H.  E.  Stockhridge,  Agricultural  College,  Lake  City. 

GEORGIA II.  C.  White,  President  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  .Mechanic 

Arts,  Athens. 
Editor  Atlanta  Evening  Journal,  Atlanta. 

Idaho J.  P.  Blanton,  Director  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  Moscow. 

Illinois A.  B.  Hostetter,  Superintendent  of  Farmers'  Institute,  Spring- 
field. 

E.  Davenport,  Dean  College  of  Agriculture,  University  of  Illinois, 
LTrbana. 

Indiana W.C.Latta,  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  Lafayette. 

low  a G.  Van  Houten.  Secretary  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  1  >es  Moines. 

W.  M.  Beardshear,  President  State  College  of  Agriculture  and 
Mechanic  Arts,  Ames. 

Kansas J.  T.  Willard,  Director  Agricultural  Experiment   Station,    Man- 
hattan. 

Kentucky L.  Moore.  Assistant  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,    Labor,  and 

Statistics.  Frankfort. 
M.  A.  Scovell,  Director  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  Lexing- 
ton. 

Louisiana L.  Jastremski,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge. 

Maine B.  W.  McKeen,  Secretary  State  Board  of  Agriculture.  Augusta. 

Maryland W.  L.  Amoss,  Director  Farmers'  Institutes,  College  Park. 

Massachusetts I.  W.  Stock  well,  Secretary  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  Boston. 

Michigan C.  D.  Smith.  Director  Agricultural  Experiment  Station.  Agricul- 
tural College. 

Minnesota O.  C.  Gregg,  Superintendent  Farmers'  Institutes,  Lynd. 

Mississippi W.  L.  Hutchinson,  Director  Agricultural   Experiment    station, 

Agricultural  Colle   e. 

Missouri J.  R.  Rippey,  Secretary  State  Hoard  of  Agriculture,  Columbia. 

17073— Xo.  79 3 


34 

Montana I.  Reid,  President   College   of  Agricnlture   and   Mechanic  Arts, 

Bozeman. 

Nebraska E.  A.  Burnett,  University  <>f  Nebraska,  Lincoln. 

\  i\\  1I.\  mi '-hum;.  .X.  .1.  Bach  elder,  Secretary  State   Board  of  Agriculture,  Concord. 

Ni.w  Jersey F.  Dye,  Secretary  state  Hoard  of  Agriculture,  Trenton. 

Ni:\v  York P.  E.  Dawley,  Director  of  Institutes,  Fayetteville. 

North  Carolina.  .S.  L.  Patterson,  ( lommissioner  of  Agriculture.  Raleigh. 

North  Dakota  . .  .E.  E.  Kaufman,  Assistant  Dairy  Commissioner,  Fargo. 

Ohio W.  W.  Miller,  Secretary  State  Board  <>f  Agriculture,  Columbus. 

( OREGON I.  Withycoiube.  Vice-director  Agricultural  Experiment  station, 

Corvallis. 

PENNSYLVANIA V.  L.  Martin.  Deputy  Secretary  of  Agriculture  and  Director  Far- 
mers' Institutes,  Harrisburg. 

Rhode  Island G.  A.  Stockwell.  Secretary    state  Board  of  Agriculture.  Provi- 
dence. 

South  Carolina  .H.  S.  Hartzog,  President   Clemson    Agricultural   College,  Clem- 
sou  College. 

SOUTH  Dakota  .  ..S.  A.  Cochrane,  Director  Farmers'  Institute,  Brookings. 

Tennessee T.  H.  Paine,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Nashville. 

F.  H.  Broome,  Secretary  Agricultural  Experiment  Station.  Knox- 
ville. 

Texas J.  H.  Connell,  Director  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  College 

Station. 

Utah J.  M.  Tanner.  President  Agricultural  College,  Logan. 

Vermont C.J.  Bell.  Secretary  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  East  Hard  wick. 

Virginia G.  W.  Koiner,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Richmond, 

J.  M.  McBryde,  President  Polytechnic  Institute,  Blacksburg. 

Washington E.  A.  Bryan,  Director  Agricultural  Experiment  Station.  Pullman. 

West  Virginia  . . .  D.  M.  Silliman,  Institute  Director,  Charleston. 

Wisconsin G.  McKerrow,  Superintendent  Farmers'  Institutes,  Madison. 

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